CHARTING A NEW COURSE AT RFA

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september/october 2026 :: RMTnews 24 RMT has called for civil legal action against P&O Ferries as the Insolvency Service completed its investigation into the rogue company over six months ago for offences following the illegal sacking of over 700 ratings in April 2022. Following the unlawful sackings and their replacement with agency workers, the Insolvency Service launched investigations into whether the company had committed any criminal or civil offences. The criminal investigation was concluded in August 2022, with a finding that there was not sufficient prospect of winning a criminal case before conducting a public interest test of pursuing a civil case against P&O Ferries. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that he had been told that the civil investigation had been completed backed in January. “The Insolvency Service takes, on average, about six months to complete a civil investigation and here we are well over four years into this case with no action which is over eight times longer than usual. “There’s a risk that the Insolvency Service has found that P&O has not committed any civil offences. “The length of time they are taking, coupled with the failure to take criminal action or to use a public interest test in prosecuting open law breaking by P&O directors like Peter Hebblethwaite, should concern everybody,” he said. RMT members overwhelmingly accepted the RFA’s two year pay deal for 2025-26 and 2026-27 this summer. Despite the employer’s failure to make the full payment in one go as envisaged, the fact remains that the union is now in a far stronger position regarding the RFA than it has been for several years. This is all down to the commitment and unity shown by RFA members in winning two high profile pay disputes in the last two years. The union is keeping up the momentum for change at the RFA. Establishing a stand- alone RFA branch, where members’ views on all workplace, industrial and political views can be aired is central to this and puts us in a stronger position ahead of pay negotiations for 2027-28. In the workplace, the union is regaining influence for RFA members after years of neglect, when the employer constantly used public sector austerity and outdated policies, procedures and processes to frustrate members’ interests. No longer will RMT stand for endless disciplinary processes and thousand-page rule books which do not reflect the modern merchant shipping industry. The Ministry of Defence and the RFA now understand this and that bodes well for the reforms RMT is negotiating and which members need to see. It is also very encouraging to see new faces with a constructive approach on the other side of the table. A return to constructive working will also help the RFA Convenor support early resolution of members’ issues which in turn will make the RFA a more attractive career prospect. RMT officials, reps and members have been instrumental in creating this new approach in the RFA which is starting to pay off. This was evident in the MoD’s Defence Investment Plan published earlier in the summer. The Plan commits to tackling RFA seafarers’ long standing pay concerns, including how the MoD classifies RFA personnel, and to increased investment in the existing RFA fleet, notably RFA Fort Victoria and RFA Proteus. It also increases the RFA budget for the next three years. This will see increases in jobs and training for RFA Ratings, as well as the ultimate goal of one for one leave. RMT had a good relationship with John Healey as Defence Secretary and his subsequent appointment as Chancellor in Andy Burnham’s government is certainly no bad thing from an RFA perspective. The new Defence Minister covering the RFA, Calvin Bailey MP met members on RFA Tidespring and Mounts Bay at the end of July and we are seeking an introductory meeting with the new Minister to discuss the Fleet Solid Support contract with Navantia and the impact on RFA members from Capita’s maladministration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, amongst other issues. The last two pay disputes, conflicts in the Middle East and security of subsea communications and energy infrastructure in UK waters have put RFA members’ work in the public eye. RMT is using this to constantly highlight to politicians and the public the fundamental importance of RFA’s skilled civilian seafarers to our national maritime security and humanitarian relief capacity. The RFA are the only vessels in the ‘grey fleet’ that can enter commercial ports in other countries to re-supply, replenish and re-arm the Royal Navy on deployment anywhere in the world. That job is now more important than ever and will only be successful with the engagement of the union to protect the collective interest of the Ratings and apprentices who are part of a solid maritime support service recovering from decades of neglect. CHARTING A NEW COURSE AT RFA RMT national secretary Darren Procter maps out a strategy at Royal Fleet Auxiliary RMT CALLS FOR ACTION AGAINST P&O